Grateful for Creativity

I always like to make things, but in these uncertain times, I have found much comfort in being able to take things I have, or things I can get, and organizing them into something beautiful and useful.  I've been busy!

Since the beginning of March, I've sewn

a dress for a friend's baby, using the last of one of my very favorite fabrics,

an apron, to keep Scoot's white shirts clean,

masks for others and ourselves,

a bookmark with my motto for the year,

a shirt for Rollo,

a weighted blanket for the Caterpillar,

curtains, and a couple of outfits for myself. 

I've crocheted

a blanket for another friend's baby,

a Dragon Neckwarmer, with coordinating hat,

 

and this All in the Family afghan.  I started it in the spring, using yarn I had at hand, and set it aside when it was getting too warm to sit around under an afghan and my colors were starting to run out.  I picked it up again this fall, added rounds in three more colors, and decided it was big enough.

 

I've done some painting:  

I have also enjoyed offering some advice, but mostly watching as the boys expressed themselves

with cakes,

costumes, and other creativity.

I have more projects to enjoy, ideas to realize, inspiration to express.  I'm thankful for the skills I've learned, and the resources to practice them.  It's one way to emulate our great Creator, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so.

 

What has kept your hands busy?

 

#givethanks

 

 

Grateful for Music

I am grateful for music.  I can't say I like all kinds of music, but I enjoy many.  I usually listen to classical and jazz music when I drive.  Not only are the local stations ad-free, but there's such a wide variety of pieces, and I can usually enjoy what they play.  I appreciate YouTube for making even more old and new music available.  The Caterpillar is really a connoisseur of interesting music from around the world, and his selections add a lot of variety to our atmosphere.  

I also enjoy making music.  I miss singing in the choir at church, and fiddling with a group at the mall.  But I can play our piano, and practice those fiddle tunes on my own--maybe I'll be able to keep up with the others when we meet again.

 

I'm grateful that the rest of the family is musical, too.  Dandelionslayer is a percussionist.  The Caterpillar plays brass and bass, and whatever he can get his hands on.  Scoot left his saxophone home when he set out on his mission, but he shares music in Europe with his recorders.  School band isn't really an ensemble thing these days, but Rollo enjoys his trombone and piano lessons.  D2, who used to claim that he hated music, is doing well with his clarinet lessons, and enjoys listening to classical strings.  

 

Sometimes we can even persuade them all to play together!

I've also been grateful for some inspiration to arrange and compose a few pieces myself.  Here's a link to one I wrote about a year ago.  At a Young Women activity, one of the girls lamented the short supply of Thanksgiving carols.  I challenged her to write one herself.  I don't know if she had any good ideas, but a few days later, I did.  I'm grateful to be able to share it at SacredSheetMusic.org, where I've shared a few others, and found many other pieces to enjoy from talented composers.

I love all the concerts and musical events that usually come at this season of the year.  I'll miss going out for those this year, but I've been finding some online opportunities for enjoying good performances.  I hope you will, too!

Music has such a powerful influence on our feelings, and I'm grateful to be able to listen and participate in music that soothes, peps, inspires, and pleases. 

What music do you love?

#givethanks

Grateful for Books

 I am so grateful that my parents taught me early to love stories and reading.  They read to us and with us, and told us stories from around the world.  I am grateful for libraries, too, sources of more books than we can fit in our house.  For the first five years I went to elementary school, the library was only a couple of blocks away.  My sister and I were frequent visitors in the summer, and always found more good books to bring home.  The closure of local libraries this spring was really disappointing.  I'm so grateful for the curbside pickup system we have now.  And, since I still can't wander and browse the shelves there, I'm grateful for Goodreads, where I can find new destinations for my reading adventures.  

 We have plenty of our own books, too, which were very helpful this spring.   Here are a few of my favorites from the permanent collection.  They provide information, inspiration, beauty, amusement, escape from worry, and perspective on the real world.

What books are you grateful for?

#givethanks

Grateful for the World

 

Washington, USA

 

I am grateful for this world that we live in.  I think I live in a particularly beautiful part of it, full of mountains and trees and lakes, surrounded by the sea.  

I've been privileged to live in other beautiful places, to have visited forty-nine of the United States, two of their territories, and five other countries.  I've found lovely scenery, intriguing history, and kind people in all of them.

England

Germany

Japan

Puerto Rico

Canada

And that isn't enough.  My wanderlust frequently manifests itself in dreams about rushing to catch airplanes, road trips that turn into hikes, or odd things happening with boats.  Someday I'll explore more, but I am truly grateful for the places I have been.  This is a beautiful world, in an amazing universe, and I'm glad to be part of it.

Where would you like to go?

#givethanks

Give Thanks

 

 2020 has been quite a year, hasn't it?  Who expected a pandemic to swoop in and plague the world?  Because, you know, this definitely fits my definition of a Biblical plague: something unpleasant and attention-getting that affects everyone.

As far as the effects go, we're pretty well off.  We've stayed healthy.  Dandelionslayer and the Caterpillar have kept their jobs and worked all this time.  Scoot is still happily serving as a missionary in the Netherlands.  Remote school is not ideal for the younger boys, but it is possible, and the technology works pretty well.  Church discussions at home have been good.  Most of us are introverts, and don't mind quiet time and family entertainment.

Which is not to say that we're immune to disappointment, discouragement, or feeling boxed in.  But it feels so much better to focus on the good things.  

That's what Russell M. Nelson says so much more eloquently in the above video.  A man of long experience with faith, science, and family, he encourages us to seek out the healing power of gratitude, and to share it with others.  

So, today I'd like to tell you that I am grateful for my family.  My parents, who brought me up with love, faith, curiosity, humor, skills, encouragement, and adventure.  My sisters, who were silly and busy and active with me.  My loving, fun, faithful, creative husband.  Our talented, capable, hilarious sons.  

I can't tell you how grateful I am for them, but I can tell you that I am, and that my life has meaning because of them.  Thank you!

And thank you to you who are reading this.  I know I haven't provided much for you to read lately, but thanks for stopping by.  I'll share a few more things I'm grateful for in the next few days.

What are you grateful for?

#givethanks